We are walking in today: Men of Torah Day--From Jacob To Israel!! The Conclusion
Genesis 17:4-7
4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: you will be the father of many nations. 5 Your name will no longer be Avram [exalted father], but your name will be Avraham [father of many], because I have made you the father of many nations. 6 I will cause you to be very fruitful. I will make nations of you, kings will descend from you. 7 “I am establishing my covenant between me and you, along with your descendants after you, generation after generation, as an everlasting covenant, to be God for you and for your descendants after you.
Although we have touched on a few highlights of the New Covenant, there is much yet to discuss. We must yet look at Father's Everlasting Covenant, to see further details of how the 'Old' is related to the 'New,' and how we are to 'connect the dots' in our understanding.
We must look further at New Covenant Liberty — at Yokes of Bondage, and the freedom to choose. We must look further at Passover, to see how the Blood of the New Covenant is to be sprinkled physically within the Holy place [our inner man] of our Tabernacle or Temple [our bodies]. We must look further at some of the Difficult Words of Paul, and see how these all confirm the many sublime features of Father's Everlasting Covenant.
Two Covenants: The Bondwoman and the Free
Much of Paul’s writings can and has been misconstrued often misinterpret. But as we can see the scriptures always is confirmed by two or three witnesses. Just as Peter and some of the other writers in the scriptures should be compared. This same process of misinterpreting scriptures. Has been applied to understanding The Most High’s covenants as well as the laws that are prerequisites to His covenant. The Allegory of the two Covenants, written by Paul, is no exception. This is an allegory of the two covenants, seen as two mountains, which in turn represent two women, who bring forth two offspring. Keep in mind that the main focus of Paul's teaching here is on the two kinds of offspring, and on the source that brings forth each kind of offspring.
"As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest [twist; pervert], as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." (2Peter 3:16)
2 Corinthians 13:1 This will be the third time that I have come to visit you. Any charge must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
In this Galatians 4:19 passage above, we see the main focus of the allegory is the offspring about which the Most High is concerned, and which He desires — it is that Messiah is to become 'formed' within the Believer. This means not only is the baby to be conceived and born, but that it should grow and mature, and not remain an immature 'baby' all its life. Not only should the Life of Messiah become birthed within us, but we should allow His Life living in us to mature, and begin to walk in obedience, and eventually become just like the Father. There is only one offspring that can achieve this goal, but the other is unable to do so — and it is this contrast that is the focus of Paul's allegory. All of the subsequent verses in Paul's allegory show how the intended offspring falls far short, if it is not engendered [brought forth] by the proper woman.
"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you..." (Galatians 4:19)
In this Galatians 4:19 passage above, we see the main focus of the allegory is the offspring about which El Elyon is concerned, and which He desires — it is that Messiah is to become 'formed' within the Believer. This means not only is the baby to be conceived and born, but that it should grow and mature, and not remain an immature 'baby' all its life. Peter is clearly speaking of the struggles of Israel’s faithfulness to except The Most High’s perfect plan of salvation.
Now let us proceed with Paul's example in Galatians chapter 4:
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after [according to] the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to [brings forth] bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is [physical or natural city], and is in bondage with her children.
Up to this point in the narrative, Paul has pictured the 'Old' Covenant as the bondwoman, as a woman who gives birth to that which is according to the flesh, in attempting to bring forth obedience by self-effort — just as we see in Hagar, who brought forth Ishmael as a result of Abraham's unbelief. Here also, in verse 24 we see the 'Old' Covenant is pictured as Mount Sinai, representing the stone tablets, and the self-effort to obey the Law, reminding us of the Israelites who failed to enter in, and who illustrate the children or offspring of that 'Old' Covenant. As New Covenant Believers, we now understand that the Law [Torah] is like a looking-glass, or mirror. The mirror can show us the imperfections, but it lacks the power to cleanse. The Israelites in that day were under the constraint of the Law, but they lacked the heart, and more importantly, lacked the Grace and faith necessary to obey the Law. The offspring are further described in verse 25 as the "Jerusalem that now is," which corresponds to its inhabitants referred to as the 'Circumcision' elsewhere in the New Testament. These represent all those who would try to be justified by self-effort to keep or obey the works of the Law, but who have not been Born-again, and justified by the Blood of Yahushua.
Now let us notice now the contrast of the two different offspring:
26 But Jerusalem which is above [the New Jerusalem] is free [not in bondage], which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh [physical, natural descendants] persecuted him that was born after the Spirit [spiritual descendants], even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. (Galatians 4:19-31)
In the above passages, we see the result of the 'Old' Covenant which [in this allegory] pictures self-effort, simply because there is the absence of the New Covenant provisions — Redemption by Blood, Righteousness by Faith, and the Holy Spirit living within, to supply Grace to empower and enable.
Here we see also in verse 28 and 29, that there is no inheritance to those offspring engendered by the flesh, by self-effort, but only to children of the free woman — the children of Promise, just as Isaac was a child of Promise. Paul tells us (Romans 4:14; Galatians 3:29) that it is not through our effort of being obedient to the Law, but only through Messiah that we become heirs according to the promise.
We must caution, however, that many years of tradition based on misunderstanding of Paul's writings still clings to us as baggage. Because of this tradition, we can miss many important truths of how the various parts of the Law [the Torah, or Father's House Rules] are to be considered, and how they are to be obeyed by His redeemed children.
The New Covenant and Yokes of Bondage
As New Covenant Believers, much of our understanding of the 'Yoke' of Bondage has been from Paul's epistles. In all of Scripture, the word yoke speaks of bondage. But have we realized there are two 'Yokes' of Bondage, one as part of the 'Old' Covenant, and one as part of the 'New' Covenant? One of these yokes leads to death; the other leads to Life.
As Paul goes on to explain in Romans 7:3-6, if the Believer [as the wife] has become 'dead' to the Law [no longer under its dominion of sin] by identifying with the death of Messiah, then the Believer is said to be 'dead to the Law by the body of Messiah.' According to the Law [Torah], the wife is no longer in a covenant with [in bondage to] the [dead] husband, but is now free to marry [enter into a new marriage covenant with] Messiah.
That is, once a person is set free from bondage, that one is now free to choose a new Master, and a new marriage Covenant [a new yoke], which we will further discuss below. Let us first notice the contrast to the above passage in Hosea 11:4
"And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant..." (Ezekiel 20:37)
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light..." (Matthew 11:29-30)
In the Ezekiel 20:37 passage above, we see that The most High promised to bring Israel into the bond of the Covenant, the bondage or prison of the Covenant, as the Hebrew reads — which is describing the 'yoke' of bondage of the New Covenant, as the context further reveals.
Then in the Matthew 11:29-30 passage above, we see the New Covenant fulfillment of this 'yoke' of Bondage. Here we see Yahushua invites His Disciples into the yoke of [bondage] of the marriage covenant. This appeal by Yahushua is a window into the mystery of (Ephesians 5:32) together with (Colossians 1:27)
Old vs New: A Contrast
The changes or contrasts between the 'Old' and 'New' versions of the Everlasting Covenant are seen in Scripture as enhancements or upgrades, as it were, to the Everlasting Covenant, whereby all the 'fine print' of the Terms and Conditions stated throughout the 'Old' Testament writings [the Tanak, also called the Law or Torah] remain intact even today — as they are said to be eternal, and will never be 'done away.' Thus we see throughout the Scriptures that the eternal Torah requirements for The Most High's Covenant People have not changed. They are the same for us, as they were for the Israelites, and for Yahushua, except for the specific changes, or 'upgrades' mentioned in Scripture. These New Covenant 'upgrades' are summarized in Jeremiah Chapter 31, and are further listed in the book of Hebrews, where these changes are called 'Better Things.'
As a summary of New Covenant promises in Scripture passages mentioned above (Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36), we saw that The Most High will give His people a new heart, and a new Spirit, and will cause His people to walk in His Torah (Ezekiel 36:26-27). This promise is only part of the Torah revelation that His people will become 'Born-Again,' as Messiah becomes 'birthed' within them; and they will be filled with the Holy Spirit to enable and empower them.
The New Covenant: No Compulsion
Under the 'New' Covenant however, there is no compulsion to come under a 'yoke' [of bondage] of obedience to the Covenant. This difference can be understood in light of El Elyon's purposes.
Among the 'New' Covenant changes is the removal of the obligation to obey the Law [Torah]. In its place is the opportunity for the Believer to voluntarily choose to obey the Law [Torah]. As we saw above under the heading, 'Yokes of Bondage,' this last change is according to Torah, and reveals some of Fathers purposes in these last days. One of Father's purposes today is to find a Bride suitable for His Son. Father is looking for those who love His Son — that is, He is looking for those who keep His Commandments (John 14:15). He is looking for those who know His Son — who know that Messiah is the one who gave the Commandments to Moses. Thus Father is looking for those who are Born-Again (who have Messiah 'birthed' within them), and who demonstrate that they know the identity of His Son, by their obedience to Messiah's Commandments written in the Law [the Torah].
When a Believer becomes 'Born-Again,' he is at that time set free from the old yoke of bondage, as discussed above under the heading, 'Yokes of Bondage.' Messiah then invites that one to come under a 'New' yoke of bondage, to become a bond servant of the Master. He then desires that those that come to Him, would voluntarily enter into the bond of the 'New' Covenant with Him; and that because of their love for their Master, they would become yoked as bondservants to obedience to Him, and to His Word.
Love, by its very nature, cannot be made compulsory; it must be of the free will, and of the heart. Yahushua sets us free, so that we are then truly free to choose whom we will serve. We may then choose to serve Him, and to please Him, and delight to do His will, or we may choose not to do so. Whatever choice we make, reveals whether we love Him, or not. However, let us also remember that He has told us:
"No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Luke 16:13)
"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:16)
Conclusion
Men Of Torah we have seen that under the 'New' Covenant, the Believers are promised a new heart, and a new spirit, prefiguring the experiences of being 'Born-Again' and being filled with the Holy Spirit;
Men of Torah we have seen that under the 'New' Covenant, the eternal Commandments of Torah are no longer external, written on tables of stone, but are now internal, written on the heart, prefiguring obedience to the same, eternal Torah.
Men of Torah we have seen that the 'New' Covenant provides everything for us that the 'Old' Covenant could not provide, but most importantly, the Grace Messiah gives us, as He lives within us by His Spirit, to enable us, and to empower us to be obedient.
Men of Torah we have seen that under the 'New' Covenant, instead of trying to obey the Commandments by our own strength, our own ability, it is now 'Messiah-in-us' who gives us the 'Grace' — the delight, and the ability, to keep His Commandments!
We have seen that under the 'New' Covenant, we too will delight in the Law in the inward man, just as did the apostle Paul (Romans 7:22), when we, as Paul, begin to walk in obedience to Messiah's eternal and Everlasting New Covenant — According to the Scriptures.
Shema Selah, let us hear and consider our journey from Jacob to Israel!! Facebook LIVE video!!
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